Stirring device having degassing and feeding functions

Abstract

A stirring device includes a stirring unit, a gas supplying unit, and a feeding unit. The stirring unit includes a drive mechanism and a shaft member. The shaft member includes a hollow rotary shaft coupled to be driven by the drive mechanism to rotate, and a stirring head coupled to rotate with the hollow rotary shaft. The gas supplying unit includes a gas supply, and a piping member fluidly communicating with the gas supply and the shaft member. The feeding unit includes a storage tank and a feeding tube fluidly communicating with the storage tank and the shaft member.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A stirring device having degassing and feeding functions and adapted to be installed in a furnace that contains a metal melt, the stirring device comprising:
 a stirring unit including
 a drive mechanism, and 
 a shaft member which extends axially into the furnace, and which includes a hollow rotary shaft coupled to be driven by said drive mechanism to rotate and a stirring head coupled to rotate with said hollow rotary shaft; 
 
 a gas supplying unit including
 a gas supply, and 
 a piping member fluidly communicating with said gas supply and said shaft member; and 
 
 a material feeding unit including
 a material storage tank, and 
 a material feeding tube fluidly communicating with said material storage tank and said shaft member, 
 
 wherein said stirring unit further includes a baffle that is fixed to said drive mechanism, and that is spaced apart from said shaft member and extends axially into the furnace. 
 
     
     
       2. The stirring device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein said hollow rotary shaft defines an inner passage that fluidly communicates with said piping member, and 
 wherein said shaft member further includes a sleeve that is sleeved around and spaced apart from said hollow rotary shaft to define an outer passage between said sleeve and said hollow rotary shaft, and that is fixed in place relative to said drive mechanism to permit said hollow rotary shaft to rotate relatively to said sleeve, said outer passage fluidly communicates with said material feeding tube. 
 
     
     
       3. The stirring device according to  claim 1 , wherein said material feeding unit further includes a feeding motor disposed downstream of said material storage tank and upstream of said hollow rotary shaft. 
     
     
       4. The stirring device according to  claim 2 , wherein said gas supply fluidly communicates with said hollow rotary shaft and said material feeding tube, and is selectively controlled to supply inert gas into said hollow rotary shaft and said material feeding tube. 
     
     
       5. The stirring device according to  claim 4 , wherein said piping member includes a first piping fluidly communicating with said hollow rotary shaft, and a second piping fluidly communicating with said material feeding tube. 
     
     
       6. The stirring device according to  claim 1 , wherein said drive mechanism includes a rotary motor which is coupled to drive rotation of said hollow rotary shaft. 
     
     
       7. The stirring device according to  claim 1 , wherein said baffle includes a main board portion extending downwardly from said drive mechanism into the furnace, and a wedge-shaped extending portion extending downwardly and convergingly from said main board portion. 
     
     
       8. The stirring device according to  claim 1 , wherein said shaft member is made from graphite. 
     
     
       9. The stirring device according to  claim 1 , wherein said baffle is made from graphite.